Many may wonder why a lobbyist for the multi-billion dollar forestry industry would hop on a bicycle, partially made of timber, to ride across Canberra to deliver a letter. Source: The Canberra Times
But as Ross Hampton explained, he wants to save some scientists.
The chief executive of the Australian Forest Products Association – addressed by Tony Abbott in March when the Prime Minister said Australia already had too many forests locked up – is lobbying the CSIRO to reconsider cutting the jobs of forestry scientists.
Mr Hampton rode the bike, which he said was a great example of the uses for timber in the future, from the association’s headquarters in Deakin to the CSIRO office in Limestone Avenue, Campbell.
He said the Commonwealth’s science organisation had 300 forestry scientists two decades ago, compared with 33 now, and he expected the number to dwindle further if an office in Hobart was shut.
That would leave about 15 forestry scientists in Canberra.
Mr Hampton said countries such as Chile and China were increasing forestry research, while Australia was pruning back.
“CSIRO scientists are now saying they’ll go to Chile or China if they lose their jobs,” he said.
Mr Hampton said the researchers were vital for investigating possible future uses for bio-plastic, which came from natural sources rather than fossil fuels.
“Anything you make from plastic you can [also] make from a tree,” he said.
He said research into the use of timber in manufacturing was important as the earth’s population edged toward 9 billion people by 2050.
“We’ve got a $22 billion industry worth about 6% of manufacturing GDP,” he said.
“It’s massively important we have forests research for the whole industry.”
A CSIRO spokesman said the number of scientists working on forestry issues at the moment was higher than 33. But added staff reductions in forestry were likely even though the full implications on that specialty were being worked through.
The CSIRO Staff Association maintains 700 jobs will be slashed across the organisation in the coming year – 420 positions lost to direct government cuts and 280 jobs as a result of the organisational restructure and reductions to support functions.
